Vernier indicating instrument



Dec. 22, 1953 R. T. MAIORANY VERNIER INDICATING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1951 INVENTOR. ROBE/PT 7T MA/ORANV ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 R. T. MAIORANY 2,663,280

VERNIER INDICATING INSTRUMENT Filed June 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

IN V EN TOR.

ROBERT TAM/ORAN) Patented Dec. 22, 1953 VERNIER INDICATING INSTRUMENT Robert T. Maiorany, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro,

N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1951, Serial No. 231,884

8 Claims.

of a division. For example, in a system wherein it-is desired to transmit into a control system small increments of an angle over a range of 180 degrees in either direction, it is necessary to be able to read the instrument indicating theangle with a high degree of accuracy. With an indicatonon a single dial,.it would require an extremely large dial to secure any accuracy. Space limitations would make such a structure highly impractical.

In the present invention, the reading from two scales are combined in order to obtain an accurate reading. Indications are obtained by driving two dials at a different ratio and combining the reading. d d a An object of the invention is to provide an improved indicating instrument. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument having improved Vernier type dials. Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument that can be read with a high deree of accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved Vernier type dial arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dial arrangement for an indicating I the instrument of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the instrument of Figure 1'.

Referring now to the drawings, similar parts have been given the same reference numerals in the various figures. An instrument 5 has been illustrated, by way of example, as a device for transmitting into a control system (not shown) small increments of angles, in either direction from a fixed reference. The instrument 5 is enclosed in a housing 6 having a mounting flange or base I. The housing 6 is provided with a transparent cover or window 8. I A fixed dial 9 is positioned in the housing 6 for viewing through the window 8. The dial 9 has a large arcuate cut-out'lO and two smaller arcuate cut-outs H and I2. A scale I 3 is placed around the inner edge of the cut-out I0. The scale l3 reads from a zero at the top center to a maximum indicia in either direction. In the example shown, the scale I3 is graduated from 0 to 5 with each main division further sub-divided. The devisions are such that the are measured from 0 to 5 is one-third of a circle or degrees. It" is understood, however, that other divisions may be used. The dial 9 :hasan index or reference'line vl4 located adjacent the outer edge of the cut-out II and an index line I5 located adjacent the inner edge of the cut-out I2. The index lines of the cut-out l4 and I5 are in line with the 0 of the scale I3.

An inner movable dial I6 is positioned under tive'to the scale I! so that only the indicia around the inside of the scale are visible through the cut-out II, the indicia around the outside of the scale being visible only through the cut-out 12.

An outer movable dial I 8 is positioned under the dial 9 and has a scale l9 adapted for register with the cut-out Hi. In the example illustrated, the scale l9 is'graduat ed by three equi-spaced index lines which are adapted to register with the scale l3.

The dials I8 and I6 are connected through gearing 20 (see Figures 2 and 3) to setting knob 2|, the latter being illustrated in Figure 2 as 'a crank ZIA. The dials l8 and it are geared to be driven at a different ratio. In the example illustrated,'the ratio of rotation of the dials is The diagrammatic representation of Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which the dials [6' and I8 are interconnected by the gearing 20 to a trans nected for rotation by the gearing 2fl at a different ratio than that of the shaft 25. The detailed explanation of the gearing -ZQhas been omitted inasmuch as the ratios may befsele'cted to fit the requirements.

In operation, at the zero settingof the instrui ment, the scale I! will have the respective zeros at the index lines I4 and I5 and the dial l8..w i ll have one of its index lines at the zero of the scale l3, Botation of the knob 2l vvi1l rotate the dial' l6 and l8toprovide an indication of the am;punt.v of rotation,. The operation can best be illustrated by example. With the dials set on the vzero position, it .is desired to set into the system, a change of 8.7 degrees in a westerly direction. The knob 21 is rotatedin a direction to,,.cau se the.inner ,dial Hi to rotate clockwise. The...outer dial is will also rotate clockwisebut at an angular ratio of 24.11 with respect to the -dial;-, 16.- Inthe ,example illustrated, the divi- Sions ,ofthescale I'll are at 5". intervals and the 1 range Qi the scale l3 is,5". The dial 18 has three eguiqspace d index 1inesl20 apart. It can be seen that in ordeigto present 8.7 degrees, the indexline originally' at zero on the dial l8 must rotate somewhat more than 120, and will disappear beneath the dial. 9. However, a second index linewill havemove d tothe zero and past that. point to 3.7 degrees. .The scale i? will have movedto, a point between the 5 and marks. Addingjthefi,degrees .to.,the 3.7 degrees will give areading of 3.7 degrees Thus itoan be seen that, the, coarse readings, are taken, from the scale I! and, combined with the fine reading from the scale,l3 to provide an accurate reading.

is noted thatlthe s cale of easterly variation has moved, in the cut-out l2 to the leftaway from the, index line. ,This prevents improper reading of the setting ofthe device and also an indication of thedirection.

Although only, one embodimentof the invention has been illustrated and described, various Qh n S nh IQrm andr e i e m nt of the parts may be made to suit requirements.

. l- Aninstruinentj of the class ,describedicom- I prisin g a fixed dial, a pair of movable dialscoaxialwith each other and with said fixed dial, means movingsaidmovable dials at different speeds, and scales onsaid dials having reference markings cooperating withone another and corresponding to thespeeds of said movable dials.

An instrument of the class described com,- prising three dials two of said dials being movable at different speeds relative to the third dial, an index, a scale on one of said movable dials readabl eon said index to provide a coarse readi g; a Vern s l sa d. t d. d a a scale on the other movable dial readable .on said vernier scale to provide a vernier reading,v said scales having reference. markings corresponding to the speeds of said movable dials. l ,3. An instrument of the .class described comprising threedials, two ofsaid dials being movable at, different. speedsrelative to the third dial, an arcuate scale on said third dial, an index,

and scales on said movable dials, one of said last mentioned scales being readable on said index and the other of said last mentioned scales beable at different speeds relative to the third dial,

a' s cale on said third dial having indicia reading from a minimum to a maximum in opposite directions from, a reference line, an index, and:scales. or' said movable dials, one of said lastmentionedscales being readable on said index and the other of said last-mentioned scales beingreadable' on said first mentioned scale, said scales having reference markings corresponding to the speeds of said movable dials.

v 5. A Vernier typeihstrument for indicating variations in direction from areference,'com prising a fixed dial having a pairfof aper therein and a vernier scale with ndication representing the reference and reading in opposite directions from the reference' a 'm'qv able dial positioned behind said fixed dial'and' having a coarse reading scale thereon viewable through one of said aperturesand readablewifh' respect, to said reference, a secondmovable dial positioned behind said fixed-dialand having a scale viewable through s'aid'oth'er aperture and readable on said Vernier scale, and meansj'driv ing said movable dials'at; different speedsfwhere by the readings from said scales are combined to provide coarse and vernier indications of'th e variation in directions from the reference.

16. An indicating instrument comprising three dials, one of said ,dials being fixed and the other two dials being mounted behind said fix'ed' dial and movable at different speeds, an outer arcua'te cutout and an inner arcuate cutout formed'in said fixed dial and spaced radially from one another, a scale on said'fixed dial adjacent said outer cutout, an index, a scale on one of said movable -dialsviewable through said inner cutout and readable on said index, anda scale on the other of said movable dials viewable through said outer cutout and'readable on s aid' firs't mentioned scale, the scales on said dials having reference markings corresponding to the speeds of said movable dials. 7 v,

7. An instrument of the class", described comprising a fixed dial'having diametrically opposed arcuate cutouts, a pair of indice's spaced I86 re s m, n rabt er ovable i mounted behindsaidiixeddial and coaxial there'- ithnn w ie m ex cnd has te ial y. 9 degrees on said movable dial andj viewable through said cut-outs with the. ends of th side coinciding with ,the indiceswhen said1 f vable dial is at nullposition"; and means for ro said movable dial from nu1lpositionin'pppo te directions for. viewing the associated, scale through only one or the other of said..cutouts a. An instrumentjof theflclass ,de'sc'ribed com,- prising a fixed dial having an arcuat' cut duti a scaleon said fixeddial adjacent said cute-out an having indicia readinginopposite directid from a reference line on said scale, a movable dial p i ned behind, saidnxeddi'aland having a second scale viewable throu'ghsaid cut-.out and readable ,onsaid first, scale, a pair or diametrically opposed inner arcuate cut-outs. formedin said fixed dial, a second; movable dial positioned behind said fixed dial andcoaxial with said other movable dial, a third scale extending I degrees on said second movable dial and viewable through said opposing arcuate cut-outs, said third scale being readable with respect to the reference line on said first scale and having radially spaced indicia viewable through one or the other of said opposed ar-cuate cut-outs, the indicia viewable through one of said opposed arcuate cut-outs being readable. with the indicia on one side of said reference line and the indicia viewable through the other of said opposed arcuate cutouts being readable with the-indicia on the other side of said reference line, and means rotating said movable dials in opposite directions for view 6 ing the third scale through only one or the other of said opposed arcuate cutouts.

ROBERT T. MAIORANY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

